The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-10-27

iuis uuSelIVu, IUr Tue LiulS &c nE, al csleT
questions must yield. It is the most i'm
portant, burning, emergent question of the
hour. .
Assuming that the only answer the peo-
pie can return to this question is that taxa
t on must be reduced; then the question that
becomes the paramount one,
is in what way shall thereducdon be made?
Upon this question every citizen should
seek to form an intelligent, honest opinion,
irrespective of party affiliations, ,prepossess-
loas and preiudices.
MAGNITUDE OF GOVERNMENT TAXES.
Before proceeding to discuss the question
of the mode Of reduction of taxation, al
low me for moment 10 call attention to
the magnitude of government taxes and
the extent of the relief which the lessenirg
of taxes now within our power to make
would aft I'd our people. During the iye
fiscal years ending June 80, 1885. the net
ordinary receipts of the government had
on the average exceeded S366 600 900 a
year. Nearly all of this great sum Of
money was collected by taxation. Every
dollar of it was the product of labor in soma
form. Some silly and thoughtless people
seam to think that in some mysterious
way By some sort of hocus-pocus, the
money collected by the general government
costs them nothing. But the government
has no money except shat paid to it by the
people. It cannot collect dollar from any
BODY IN all the world except its own pso-
pie. Every dollar, therefore Of this annual
collection of $3.50, GOO, Geo WAS paid bY the
American people. Now, what does that
mean? The average wages paid for labor
in the United States is less, rather than
kk0r 1nll !
ment of this great sum means that the peo
pie of this suntry contributed of
the proceeds Of their toll for the support of
the government the wages of more than
$50 000, 600 Of days. That much was taken
from their f4milies; from their ability to
educate their children; from their power
for old age. But such GgpTes are almost in
conceivable. Let US bring the matter
nearer home. By the census of 1880 Ohio
had about one-sixteenth part of the popu-
lation Of the United States. 1t had
more than one-eleventh of the wealth
Of the United States. The people of
Ohio have certainly paid for many years
past at least one fourteenth, and probably
the twelfth part Of all the money which
went into the treasury Of the United States.
If they did that the taxes col,
lected by the United States from
the people of Ohio have amounted for
years to from $25. 200, 900 to $50, 600, 900 a
year, or sum Of money about as great as
is paid in this State for ell State, county
and municipal purposes combined. Let it
be remembered that this mighty sum Of
money has just as certainly been paid by
the people Of Ohio, as the taxes they have
paid for State and county purposes.
Every dollar Of it represents toll, economy
and deprivation just as certainly as any
other money we earn or pay out
If it were still necessary to collect of the
people yearly even as huge sum as tais to
meet the honor or requirements of the gov
srnment, the people Of Onio would cheer
fully pay it, heavy as the burden would be.
Bot it is no longer necessary. The amount
may be reduced at least one hundred mil
lions year on the entire county, and from
seven to nine millions of dollars a year on
the people of Ohio alone.
Governor Foraker and Mr.. Powell have q
controversy whether the Republican party
or the Democratic party has been the most
lavish In appropriations for conducting the
public service of our State. But you may
double the most extravagant appropria.
tions ever madesin Ohio for carrying on
every department of the government Of
this great State, and the sum would not be
half as great as the useless money which
will hereafter be collected from the people
Of Ohio, under the present tax.laws of the
United States to lie in the treasury as the
most powerful incentive to waste and cor
cuption, as well as the certain and unavoid
able precursor of financial disaster.
Now come to the consideration Of thi
question how a reduction of taxation car
oe made on great scale in the least hurt
full and most beneficial way.
& MODES OF TAXATION.
The tax laws of the United States, an6
the tax laws of Ohio (and most of the
other States) are founded on totally differ
ent principles. The rule in Ohio is thai
all property in the State shall be taxed il
proportion to its value. The tax is OF
property and property alone, and if fail
and equal assess nent could be made the
burden OF taxation would be imposed OF
every citizen or property holder in tbs
State in exact proportion to his or he
property. But the United States does no
tax property at all. IF man possesses 6
hundred dollars worth or hundred mil
lion dollars worth of land. or houses, o